Godlove Gabsibuin and Yvonne Ngwaya – both Cameroonians from the Northwest Region – emerged champions in the male and female categories of the 20th edition of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope. The race was took place Saturday, February 14 in Buea.

Godlove Gabsibuin covered the 38kilomtres race course from the Molyko stadium to the summit of Mount Cameroon and back in 4hrs, 23 minutes, 12 seconds, emerging overall champion and first in the male category. He smiled home with a trophy and cash prize of FCFA 10 million. He also earned FCFA 250,000 for being the first of two to reach the summit.

In the female category, five times champion, Yvonne Ngwaya, 27, secured her sixth triumph. She, like Gabsibuin, earned a trophy, a cash prize of FCFA 10 million and also FCFA 250,000 for being the first of two to reach the summit.

Ngwaya first won in 2009, then in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and now 2015. Ngwanya and Gabsibuin each were also given an air ticket to Nairobi, Kenya to compete in a marathon.

Eric Mbatcha Mangeh trailed Gabsibuin in the men’s senior, finishing the race in 4hrs, 24minutes, 35 seconds. His reward – a trophy, and FCFA 5 million.

Samuel Lyonga Essombe, a military officer and senior son of the Queen of the Mountain, Sarah Liengu Etonge finished the race on spot number three in the male senior category. He was in his 17 participation in the race and was glad to go home with FCFA 2 million.

For the Female Senior category, Confidence Bono and Wirngo Fanla (all from the North West) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Confidence received FCFA 5 million cash prize while Wirngo received FCFA 2 million.

There was also a junior category and relay race-competition with different prizes. Amadou Bi Ibrahim and Adamou Issa from the North West finished first and second respectively in the junior male category, while Youssouf Adamou from Adamaoua came third.

In the junior female category, athletes from the North West filled the podium; Wirba Mary Grace (first), Claudine Tamla (second) and Christabel Lendjo (third).

A total of 496 athletes (463 Cameroonians and 33 foreigners from 11 countries) participated in the international race, which is after a long time now receiving sponsorship from Guinness for the second year.

The Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Adoum Garoua and the President of Cameroon Athletic Federation, Emmanuel Motomby Mbome co-chaired the prize-award ceremony at the Molyko Stadium.

A day earlier at the Molyko Stadium during the launching ceremony, Garoua, like in his closing speech hailed Guinness and the organising committee for a “successful race.”

In his welcome speech, the mayor of Buea, Ekema Patrick Esunge, stressed the importance of the race, whose standards, many people say, is returning to the old glories of yesteryears.